During an interview in October 2015, when asked about Chancellor Merkel’s open door refugee policy, Trump famously replied, “I always thought Merkel was, like, this great leader… What she’s done in Germany is insane,” before adding, “They’re going to have riots in Germany.”

This was followed by a number of other disparaging remarks, including the obligatory Twitter rant from then candidate Trump:

I told you @TIME Magazine would never pick me as person of the year despite being the big favorite They picked person who is ruining Germany

It didn’t end there either. In March 2016, when commenting on the Cologne New Year’s Eve sexual assaults, Trump proceeded to blame Merkel. “The German people are going to riot. The German people are going to end up overthrowing this woman [Angela Merkel]. I don’t know what the hell she is thinking.”

With so much bad water under the bridge, it’s no wonder how at their press conference the normally bolshy Trump continued to appear sheepish in Merkel’s presence – a far cry from the campaign trail Vaudeville atmosphere.

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